SHB 1625
In CommitteeHouse
Back country search & rescue
Supporting back country search and rescue organizations and volunteers through the creation of the back country search and rescue grant program.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill creates a new grant program to financially support backcountry search and rescue efforts in Washington. It allows the state to provide funding to search and rescue organizations and local governments for costs related to planning, training, equipment, and operations — including volunteer expenses — to improve response capabilities in remote, hazardous areas.
- Creates the back country search and rescue grant program within the state military department to provide financial support for search and rescue activities.
- Establishes the back country search and rescue account in the state treasury to receive and distribute funds from legislative appropriations, donations, and other sources.
- Grants may be used for planning, equipment, training, exercises, and operations by search and rescue organizations and political subdivisions.
- Grants can cover both anticipated and incurred costs for volunteer-led backcountry rescue missions, including volunteer-related expenses.
- Requires the department to work with the emergency management council to adopt rules for program administration.
Who is affected
- Back country search and rescue organizations — Eligible organizations can apply for grants to cover costs related to planning, training, equipment, and operations for backcountry search and rescue missions.
- Political subdivisions (counties, cities, towns) — Local governments (counties, cities, towns) may receive grants to support search and rescue operations that aren’t covered by other funding sources.
- Search and rescue volunteers — Volunteers who participate in backcountry search and rescue may see increased support for their out-of-pocket costs related to missions.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (3)
Directly improves public safety by enabling more frequent training, better equipment, and coverage of volunteer out-of-pocket costs—reducing barriers to participation and improving response capacity in remote, high-risk terrain where delays can be fatal.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: NEW SECTION, Sec. 3(2)(a)Supports volunteer-based organizations that function as de facto emergency responders—many of which operate as nonprofits with local staff or contracted personnel—by stabilizing their operations and enabling them to retain trained volunteers longer.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: NEW SECTION, Sec. 3(2)(a)Funding for training and exercises expands access to standardized emergency response education—especially for volunteers in rural communities who otherwise lack access to formal SAR certification or continuing education.
EducationPeopleRef: NEW SECTION, Sec. 3(2)(a)
Potential Concerns (3)
The bill creates a new grant program that may reduce reliance on county-level general fund resources for search and rescue operations, but because grants are discretionary and subject to appropriation, smaller or rural counties with fewer staff and lower administrative capacity may struggle to apply and compete effectively—potentially widening resource disparities between urban and rural jurisdictions.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: NEW SECTION, Sec. 3(2)(b)While the bill explicitly includes volunteer expenses, it does not create wage-based employment or long-term staffing support—meaning most funding flows to equipment, training, and reimbursement rather than stable employment, limiting broader economic impact for local economies.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: NEW SECTION, Sec. 3(2)(a)The bill does not address systemic gaps in coordination between backcountry SAR and existing emergency response systems (e.g., 911 dispatch, fire, medical), potentially leading to duplication of effort or delayed response in complex multi-jurisdictional rescues where integration is critical.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: NEW SECTION, Sec. 3(2)(b)
Who Is Most Affected
Volunteers benefit significantly—reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs (e.g., fuel, gear, food) reduces financial barriers to participation, and improved training increases skill development and retention. This is especially impactful for low- and middle-income volunteers.
Rural counties and smaller municipalities gain access to state-level funding for SAR operations they could not otherwise afford, but success depends on administrative capacity to apply and manage grants—potentially widening disparities if urban jurisdictions dominate the application process.
Nonprofit SAR organizations gain new, dedicated funding streams that improve operational capacity and sustainability, but the lack of wage support limits their ability to hire full-time staff—so growth remains constrained to volunteer-based models.
State emergency management agencies gain a new tool to coordinate and standardize SAR capacity, but must absorb administrative costs for grant oversight and rulemaking—diverting staff time from other priorities.
Outdoor recreation businesses (e.g., guiding services, gear retailers) benefit indirectly from improved SAR capacity, as safer backcountry access may increase participation—but the bill does not directly fund or regulate these businesses.